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Friday, March 30, 2012

My Maternal Direct Line "Brick Wall"

"How far back can any of you take your direct female line?" That is the question someone asked this week on the Rockcastle and Laurel County, Kentucky Facebook group page. I gave a quick answer but thought it deserved a closer look in honor of Women's History Month.

Felicia Lewis was my 5th great-grandmother. I have no idea when or where Felicia was born or who her parents were. She married Edward King in January 1767 in Wilkes County, North Carolina and died on 20 Nov 1849 in Ashe County, North Carolina. Edward died there 49 years earlier in 1800. They had 10 children but only two survived Felicia.

All of that information comes from Edward's Revolutionary War Pension application which was filed in Rockcastle County, Kentucky in 1851 by his children, Mary King Mullins and John King - the only two who survived their mother.

This is one of those "Brick Walls" that may only exist because I haven't done any work at all so it's about time to at least create a few research "to do" items.

Next steps:

Download and review Edward's 129-page pension file from Fold3 (as opposed to the 7-page copy from Heritage Quest that I have).

Check for Will/Probate Records for Edward and Felicia in Ashe County, North Carolina. (The pension file indicates that Mary's husband, Spencer Mullins, was administrator of Felicia's estate so there should at least be a record for Felicia.)

Check for Edward and Felicia's marriage record in Wilkes County, North Carolina. (According to pension application, no record could be found in 1851.)

Hi Linda, oooohhh you are in my neck of the woods now! I have some very quick advice, not that you probably need it, but here you go:

I checked the NC State Archives online catalog for wills (they do not have estates online). There were only 2 King wills in Ashe Co - Joseph King from 1879 and Joseph A King from 1859; There was only 1 King will from Wilkes Co - Robert King. No Edward King in either of those counties.

There was an Edward King who wrote a will in 1798 in Halifax Co and one in 1843. But Halifax Co is on the other side of the state. No Felicia King wrote a will.

Ashe Co was formed 1799 from Wilkes County. Wilkes Co was formed 1778 from Surry County. So you will need to keep your eyes open for both.

Check the Wilkes Co Register of Deeds for the marriage license between Felicia Lewis and Edward King since it is so early. They will have the originals.

Lewises in Wilkes Co: There are 5 wills by Lewis made before 1850 in Wilkes Co. And 4 in Surry Co. Once you find the names, county, and dates you can pull up in FamilySearch.org for images. But if you get the chance, get original copies from Archives, because the familysearch.org images are transcriptions which are copies hand written from the originals.

This is my first visit to your blog, and I feel like I've struck gold! I believe my 4G-grandfather is Spencer Mullins. My grandmother was Wilmoth Georgia Mullins. I've only recently begun climbing up this family tree. I very much appreciate your publication of your findings. Thanks so much!

KimAnn - I haven't done much work on Spencer's descendants except for his daughter, Louis Ann, who was my 3rd great-grandmother. If you didn't also find my website, you can start here - http://lfmccauley.com/familyfile/3176.html - with Spencer's page and find what I have for his children. Since I don't have a way to contact you, I hope you find this reply. Feel free to email me. My email address is in the right column.